There has been a site of Christian worship on the site of the "old" parish
church since at least 1086---and probably even before then. The first recorded
Rector was appointed in 1314 to a Church which included a chapel dedicated to
St Thomas Becket and a rood known to have been in a poor state of repair by the
fifteenth century.

Sir William Patten, Lord of the Manor, built the present ``Old'' Church,
bordering Clissold Park on the north side of Church Street, in 1563. It is the
only church of the Elizabethan period left in London, and one of only a few in
the entire country. It is also one of the very earliest Anglican Churches which
has never been a Roman Catholic Church.

There have been many additions to the building, notably the Victorian box pews
and the spire, placed on top of the ancient square tower by the notable
architect Sir Charles Barry.